Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Five, Don't Leave Bed
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: A relationship changes with a simple touch.

Previous Chapter Completely platonically

Current Chapter Don't leave bed

Next Chapter Not a rebound

Waking with a smile on her face, Alyssa snuggled closer to the source of warmth, paying no mind to what or who was the source. In response an arm tightened around her, pulling her closer. For a few moments she was content to just lay there.

Until she realized who the arm wrapped around her belonged to and whose bed she was laying in. Her eyes opened quickly, turning towards him. Seeing Chris sleeping seemingly peacefully, she hated to pull away from him and leave the room, but she knew she really shouldn't be there. Not at all.

Even though it was clearly innocent to her, Alyssa instantly started to worry. And therefore continued to slowly move away from him, out of his bed.

Just as she was nearly out from under Chris's arm, his fingers curled and his arm flexed. A moment later, Alyssa was back on her back, pulled close to him again. She bit her lip, wondering how she would manage to sneak out from him. Her fingers once again moved to his, to pry his arm off.

"You're not going anywhere, Lyssa," his soft voice spoke. "Just relax and go back to sleep."

"No. Chris. I can't," she replied. "I shouldn't be here."

His eyes opened, looking directly into hers, "And why not?"

"What would Vicky think if she were to walk in on this?" she answered with a question.

"She won't," he replied. "She's gone, Lyss. It's just you and me and this big, comfy bed."

"Chris....." she still resisted, wanting to pull out of his arms.

"When was the last time you spent all day in bed?" he asked, still holding her.

Alyssa paused to think it over before replying, "Since Jonathan."

Moving a little closer, his leg pressing against hers, Chris leaned towards her, "Then stay here with me now. Let's make a memory of a day of sloth be a good one, between us."

"I don't know, Chris," she still resisted, eyes on his.

As his embrace wasn't loosening on her, Chris took the opportunity to do what he had been wanting to do since the day prior. His soft mouth touched hers briefly, causing her hazel eyes to widen. His hand left it's position on her stomach to cup her cheek. Pulling out of the gentle kiss, he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip.

Her breath had ceased. Her heart turned to stone. She certainly wasn't alive any more..... no, she had not been alive before. Because as her best friend smiled at her, all of her cells started to vibrate excitedly. Every part of her body, from her baby toes to the tips of her ears jumped excitedly.

"Chris... we....." her mouth attempted to argue.

He kissed her once more, lingering a bit longer the second time. This time her eyes fluttered close and she returned the kiss, her fingers messing his already messy hair. Her lips parted without permission, tempting Chris to deepen the kiss. He did ever so fleetingly, only dipping his tongue in once to taste hers before pulling away.

"Tell me you want to leave now," he breathed, fingers tracing the line of her cheek.

Eyes opening, Alyssa smiled up at him, "Never. Alive... you make me.... live."

Their lips touched briefly again, almost innocently, before Chris let her out of his embrace, partly as a test to see if she would remain, partly in order to get rid of the blanket at separated them from body contact. Alyssa however didn't move, which was good and not so good.

"This changes us, Chris," she muttered. "Just friends don't kiss, not like that."

"I don't want us to be just friends. We're soulmates," he declared.

She reached for his cheek, caressing it briefly, "Be as that may, nothing more will come of this."

He seemed crestfallen at her words, "Why not?"

"You're married."